Snap-switch.



W. M. SCOTT 6: J. H. WYATT.

SNAP SWITCH. ABPVLIGATION FILED any. 10, 1907.

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latch.

UNITED srnrns re.ram? OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT AND JAMES H. WYATT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID WYATT ASSIGNOR TO SAID SCOTT.

SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed September 10, 1907. Serial No. 392,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that wc, \VILLIAM M. Soorr and J muss ll. WYATT, citizens of the United States. residing at Philadelphiz't, in the county of PhiL-ulelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an electrical switch and more particularly to a snap switclnand preferably of the type to be operated by a press button or the like.

it the object of our invention to produce a snap switch which shall make and break. circuit with a sharp decisive movement and yet with the expenditure of a minimum of effort upon the part of theopen' ator.

To this end we have provided a snap;

button member 7.

switch in which the contact carrying member is held restrained in both of its positions by a pivoted detent or latch engaging with a locking member separate and independent of but engaging the contact carrying memher, a loose and imlepcmlcnt cam plate being operated after a de inite movement of the spring winding mechanism to lift the latch or detent to permit the free and sudden movement of the contact: carrying member. Our invention resides in further features hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. A For an illustration of one of the forms our invention may take. reference is to be had to the acc unpanying drawings, in which:

Figure l a R crticai sectional view tl'irough the cover and switch box, the switch parts being shown in elevat on. Fig. 2 shows a side ch2 die-o of the switch meclianism isolated. the contacts being omitted for the sake of clearness. ,Fig. 3 is a vertical end elevation of the switch n'iechanism taken at right angles to the view in. Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the pivoted detent or Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe same. Fig. his a top edge view of the independent locking member. Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the same. Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the spring winding member; Fig. 9 is a side view of the same. I Fig. 10 is Fig. 11 is a side view of the same. a front elevatlonal view of the loose orlmdependent cam member. Fig. 13 is afi'e'dge View of the same. Fig. 14 is a front view of a portion of the'switch supporting plate. Referring to Fig. 1, R is a casing or receptacle of insulating material, such as molded porcelain, adapted to contain and surround the switch mechanism. Upon the top of the same is secured what may be termed the base plate 1 upon which the entire switch mechanism, except the stationary contacts, is sup ported.

Two apertures are made through the base plate 1 as well as the finish plate 2 to permit the passage of the two push-buttons 4 and 5. The buttons 4 and 5 are mounted, res eotivel upon the vertically disposed metal ic mem ers 6.and 7. The member 6 is pivoted at 8 to the arm 9 of lthe spring winding member 10, to whose other arm 11 there is pivoted at. 12 the other Secured to the underside of the base plate 1, between the two' buttons 4 and 5, is the switch supportin member or plate 13 having the vertica ly downwardly extending portion 14 which has, near its lower end, the horizontally extending hole 15 through which. extends the horizontal switch shaft or' spindle 16. To the left of the member 14, as viewed in Fig. 3, is a busl'iing. 17, shown in dotted lines, surrounding the shaft 16. Upon this bushing 17 is supported the wing 18 of the spring winding lmember 10, which wing is connected by the horizontally extending portion 19 with the other wing 20, which is perforated to permit the passage of the shaft 16.

'lhe.contac t carrying member 21 has two vertically disposed wings 22 and 23, to each of which is secured contact-blades having at each end a contact 24. These contact blades are insulated from the wings 22 and 23, there being provided four stationary contacts or contact jaws 25 with which the contacts 24 engage to close circuit. The four movable and stationary contacts serve for double pole break as well understood in the art. two wings 22 and 23 have small perforations to permit thepassage of the shaft 16. Between the member 14 and the wing 22 is a separator 26, and between the win 20 of the spring winding member and. the wing 23 is a similar separator 27.

A helical spring 28 is Wound around the bushing 17 and its two ends, 29 and 30, ex-

tend down on opposite sides of the horizpntal The A finishing plate 2 is secured by connecting members 19 and 21 of the spring winding member and the contact carrying member. A locking member 31 is mounted upon the bushing 17 just to the left of the vertically extending member 14, as viewed in Fig. 3,"the aperture 32 being provided to receive the bushing 17. This member has a notch in its lower side which receives the horizontal portion 21. of the contact carrying member. And at its top side has the two notches 34 and 35 adapted to engage the detent or latch 36 pivoted at 37 in the lower end of the vertical bar 38 which is integral with the member 13 and the vertically extending member 14. A head 39 is formed upon the top of the rivet 40 which secures the member 13 to thebase plate 1.. This head 39 is surrounded by the helical spring 41 which, at its lower end, surrounds asimilar extension or head 42 integral with the latch or detent 36. The heads 39 and 42 serve to keep the spring 41 in position. The spring 41 is under compression, thus tending to hold.

, the detent or latch 36 in. a downward positiOn;

Beside the locking member and loosely disposed upon the bushing 17 is the cam member 43 having the aperture 44 to receive said bushing 17. A cam surface 45 is formed on the upper edge of the member 43-; and at either end of the cam surface 45 is a laterally turned ear 46 extending into the path of the arms 9 and 11 of the wing 1.8 of the spring Winding member 10. This cam member 43 is loose upon the bushing 18 and has a great amount of lost motion or play between the two positions in which the ears 46 engage the arms 9 or 11 of the spring winding member. The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts shown in circuit closing position, as shown in Fig. 1, to break the circuit the operator pushes down the button 4. The contact carrying member 21 is held locked by the locking member 31 since its notch 33 strad dles the horizontal portion 21 of the contact carrying member and since the side of the.

notch 34 rests against the latch 36 held downwardly by the spring 41. As the but ton 4 is depressed, however, the arm 9 of the sprin winding member 10 is actuated, so t at t e spring winding member 10 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2 rotating with it the end 30 of the spring 28, thus winding the spring. This winding of the spring and motion of the button continue and after aconsiderable travel, the top of the arm 11 engages the ear 46 of the cam member 43, thus causing the cam member to rotate with the spring Winding member. As the cam member 43 rotates its cam surface 45 engages the under edge of the latch 36, raising it, the outer edge of the latch 36 being guided in the vertical slot 14 in the member 14. When the highest or nearly the highest point of the cam surface 4-5 hascome under the lower edge of the latch 36, the latch 36 has been raised far enough to come out of the notch 34 of the locking member 31, whereupon the contact carrying member 21 is released and the end 29 of the spring 28 quickly rotates the contact carrying member to come up with the spring winding member 10, the parts having now snapped to open circuit position, and the latch 36 has snapped into the notch 35 oi the locking member 31.

To close the circuit, the operation is simply repeated by pushing the button 5 inwardly, for at the end of the opening movement the button. 5 has been projected out through the plate 2 and the button 4 is in its innermost position. The mechanical cycle is the same during the circuit closing movement.

The switch supporting member 14 has at its lower end the two shoulders 47 which are engaged by the portion 21. of thecontact carrying member at the end of both the opening and closing movement, these shoulders serving as stops to prevent overtravel in either direction.

What we claim is: v l

1. in a snap switch, the combination with a pivoted contact carrying member, of an independent locking member engaging the same, a latch restraining said locking member, a spring, a spring winding member, and a loose. cam member having lostmotion with respect to but operated by said spring winding member, said loose cam member adaptedto actuate said latch to release said locking member.

2. In a snap switch, the combination with a pivoted contact carrying member, of a locking member pivoted concentric therewith and engaging the same, a latch engaging said locking member, a spring, a spring winding member, a loose cam member pivoted independently of said spring winding member, and adapted to be engaged after a time by said spring winding member to actuate said latch.

3. in a snap switch, the combination with a base plate, of an integral switch and latch supporting member secured to said base, a movable contact member pivoted on said switch supporting member, an independent locking member engaging said contact carrying member, a latch pivoted in said integral latch supporting member and restraining said locking member, a spring, a spring wind ing member, and a loose cam member engaged after a time by said spring winding member to actuate said latch.

4. In a snap switch, the con'ibination with a shaft, of a contact carrying member mounted thereon, an independent locking member mounted upon said shaft and engaging said contact carrying member, a latch restraining said locking member, a spring, a ring wind-- ing member pivoted upon said s iaft, and a loose cam member pivoted upon said shaft and engaged after a timeby said spring winding member to actuate said latch.

5. In a switch, the combination with a contact carrying member, of a locking member engaging the same, a latch for restraining said locking member, a switch actuating member, and a loose cam member 0 erated by said switch actuating member, said loose cam member adapted to actuate said latch to release said lockin member.

6. In a switc the combination with a contact carrying member, of a locking member engaging the same, a latch restraining said locking member, a switch actuating member, a cam member having lost motion 15 with respect to said switch actuatin member and adapted to be actuated there said cam member-adapted to actuate said latch to release said lockin member. In testimony w ereof we have hereunto 2e aflixed our signatures this 4th day of Se tember, 1907, inthe presence of the two su scribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT. JAMES'H. WYATT. Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, ANNA- E. STEINBOOK. 

